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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Propellers and Planes in the Fall 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival

I've always wanted to make an airplane quilt - partly from memories of watching them with my grandfather and more recently because I have sons. When I saw some blocks made with the Steam Punk pattern, I knew it was time to start. I pulled all my vintage/special fabrics, bought more, and combined them into a personal memory quilt. Spurring me on... I desperately need a quilt large enough for our California king bed.

Propellers and Planes quilt

Upon completing a few blocks I loved the density of the fabrics when the blocks are set side by side without sashing.

Collage 2 of Steam Punk quilt blocks

However, that layout would be a piecing nightmare with so many points to be matched and thick seams pointing the same direction. Additionally, I wanted more variation on such a large quilt. So I drafted some larger blocks and sawtooth sashing, combining them with groups of four small blocks.

For more fun, I drafted and improvisationally pieced a squadron of 30" planes for the back. I've never gotten a photo of the entire back but I snapped several partial views at our guild show.

A squadron of single prop planes flies across the quilt back.

When you make a quilt "just for you" it's always scary to send it out into the world. What will other people think? I've been honored that so many people have stopped to talk with me about the fabric combinations. There is something for almost everyone on it: bicycles, models, dogs, birds, fish and flowers, vintage and modern. Those novelty prints plus remnants from gifts made for family and friends make it my perfect memory quilt. I am blessed to sleep under it every night.

This is a fabulous quilt, I don't think I'd every get tired of exploring all the fabrics and color nuances in each block. The sawtooth sashings really set off your quilt blocks beautifully. And I'm in awe that you quilted something this huge on your home machine!

What a gorgeous quilt! I believe the quilts made "just for you" are the best, singing from the deepest of deep places in our hearts. This one is a classic example of it. I am simply amazed by it! Love it!

I was SO excited to see this quilt in the Blogger's festival. Voted for you too!! PIQF can be pretty overwhelming especially with one day to walk through and when I saw this I was - wowed - I love the use of mixed scale and the on point gave such a uniqueness. Steam punk was one of those quilt alongs that I watched from afar. Great job.

How kind of you, Karen. Big shows are overwhelming. These online shows are, too, but they stay up longer and we can attend in our jammies. I was a bit late for the original quilt along. I notice there's a new group starting up with some great color schemes. Thanks for the vote. I hope to get to Pajaro Valley again this year.